By: Vetondouua Tjivikua
The sports minister Agnes Tjongarero has defended a trip her staff took to Cameroon for the Afcon final.
This despite her ministry previously denying that anyone had sanctioned the trip.
Tjongarero said that a letter in which the ministry claimed that it had not “sent any of its employees to Cameroon and has no plans to do so in the future” was in response to queries sent to the executive director’s office. The enquiry was on whether a ministerial staff delegation comprising of senior officials would be sent to Cameroon.
“In the response, the executive director purely responded on the ministerial staff delegation, emanating from his understanding that the deputy minister is a political office bearer and not a ministerial staff”, Tjongarero said.
According to the sports minister, media reports claimed that the deputy minister, Emma Kantema-Gaomas, was accompanied by the ministry’s ED and other senior officials. She said this was not true and that only Kantema-Gaomas and one support staff travelled.
“I sanctioned the trip to Cameroon after our neighbours, Botswana, who have approached Namibia with a suggestion to co-host the 2027 African Cup Of Nations, revealed they were sending a strong delegation to Cameroon to try and canvas support for the tournament to be potentially hosted by Namibia and Botswana”, Tjongarero stated.
She said Botswana sent a list of their officials heading to Cameroon, comprising senior government officials, including the Minister of Sport.
She said they then urged Namibia to send a delegation of its own so that the two countries are well represented.
“In our ministerial meeting, we concluded that we do not have enough resources to send a larger delegation. My attendance was suggested, but I delegated the deputy minister Emma Kantema-Gaomas.”
Tjongarero further stated that while discussions were ongoing, a letter from the Confederation of African Football invited them to go to Cameroon.
She said CAF was going to cover most of the costs. She also claims the trip submission followed all due processes and approval required by a Public Office Bearer to travel. According to the minister, the costs covered by the ministry were as per standard Daily Subsistence Allowance payable for travel in Namibia and abroad on official duty for political and other office-bearers.
Along with her assistant Ricardo Goagoseb, the deputy minister recently went to Cameroon on invitation from the President of the Confederation of African Football Patrice Motsepe on sports development and cooperation mission.
